[GoRomeo]

There was a recall on this, I remember. I got mine fixed about 4 yrs ago under warranty. I believe its called MAT sensor.

[FrankoQ]

seems to be VIN specific.

[FrankoQ]

Anyone got this from ebay?
BMW passenger seat occupancy mat bypass airbag sensor

Looks like it will make the computer activate the airbag regardless of passenger or not in the case of an accident.
Looks like the error code would still need to be cleared.

[Martin180k]

I have a 2006 325i, and was getting this airbag sensor warning for the first few months I had it. I went underneath the passenger seat and unplugged 2 connectors I believe, one was really big, and I think white. well I pulled the old NES trick and blew into the connectors a few times. Plugged them both in, and I have yet to get the error again. been about 6 months now. worth a try.

[FrankoQ]

Originally Posted by Martin180k

I have a 2006 325i, and was getting this airbag sensor warning for the first few months I had it. I went underneath the passenger seat and unplugged 2 connectors I believe, one was really big, and I think white. well I pulled the old NES trick and blew into the connectors a few times. Plugged them both in, and I have yet to get the error again. been about 6 months now. worth a try.

I can try that and a rain dance. Anything to avoid paying >1k for something BMW should cover.

[F1330]

Just got it done on my e90 2006 - dealer covered the cost under extended guarantee

[brawas]

Hi guys. I'm new to the forum. I want to share with you my current, ongoing experience with this issue. I posted this same message in another thread, simlar to this one. I thought I'd share it here too.

I bought a 2008 BMW 328 (E93) as a CPO from a dealership with fairly low mileage (about 38,000kms) approximately 1.5 years ago.

I started to get the airbag fault light come on in the dashboard with a CC ID 97. Here's a summary of what's happened so far:

- I took it to the dealer, they reset the sensor and gave it back to me. Within hour, the light came back on

- took it back to the dealer again. The dealer actually replaced one of the side airbags. The light came back on before I even left their driveway

- took it back again. Shop foreman got involved. They replaced the seat mat sensor (not sure which side). Got it back, the light came back on 2 hours later.

- took it back again. They replaced some wiring. Light came back on within 1 week

- took it back a 5th time. Shop manager got involved, replaced some control module. Light came back on 2 days later.

- Taking it back a 6th time tonight or tomorrow, by this point I've complained to BMW Canada, USA, Germany, and management at the dealership.

Let's see what happens next. I'll post an update when I get one. Anyone else had an experience like mine where the problem keeps coming back? BTW, I checked for any toys, etc under the seat.

[Kjaakars]

Hello. I have 2008 BMW 320 (e90). My problem was similar with seatbelt and airbag light when someone sit in passenger seat.. Dealer didnt go for a recall mat sensor so i found another solution, to buy a bypass emulator, to keep the computer to think that seat is always occupied. Everything worked fine, until someone was sitting there, in moment when noone was there - seatbelt light is on and that stupid noise to put on seatbelt.. I found a code to remove that seatbelt chime (SBR_BEIFAHRER_1 and set it to nicht_aktiv in ABG module with NCS Expert..) Okey, the sound is now gone, but the light is still on while noone is there. I dont want to always put in passenger seatbelt while im driving alone to get rid of the seatbelt light, so i wanted to ask is there some kind a code to disable that seatbelt light? Every help would be appreciated.

[riso1988]

Anyone have info on how to code the new mat occupancy sensor to the vehicle? BMW replaced mine under the warranty program but could not code it since I have an idrive emulator/some custom coding. Can I use ncsexpert?

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by riso1988

Anyone have info on how to code the new mat occupancy sensor to the vehicle? BMW replaced mine under the warranty program but could not code it since I have an idrive emulator/some custom coding. Can I use ncsexpert?

The new sensor doesn't need to be coded to the vehicle. Are you still getting the occupancy sensor error after BMW replaced it?

[riso1988]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

The new sensor doesn't need to be coded to the vehicle. Are you still getting the occupancy sensor error after BMW replaced it?

Thanks for the quick reply.

Oh really? BMW said there was 'some programming' that was required and they couldn't connect to any of the modules in my vehicle. I haven't gotten it back yet, probably tomorrow?

[ctuna]

The thing is any non stock thing in the idrive or radio or any
of the tunes for the DME will stop BMW from running updates
on your car. You have to go back to stock for them to perform
updates.There black box programming software looks at the original
configuration of the car and if doesn't see it , it stops on the spot.
I you have a motor tune setting it to map 0 sometimes works
I think that is for Juice box but I am not sure if that is the one.

It also stops them from doing diagnostics.

If they just replaced the sensor and didn't trigger and error it should still work.
If there is software associated with making the sensor work better they won't be able to install that.

Custom coding won't stop them from updating but it will be wiped out
by a BMW software update and you will have to reinstall it.

Any senors that are being replace should not have to be coded to the vehicle.
(as far as I know anyway)

They are probably trying to update the whole car.
Yes you could update individual modules that are not modified with
Winkfp however dealerships are not allowed to use this Engineering Tool
Most wouldn't even know what it is.

What module is associated with airbags? My guess would be the CAS although there
could be associated interacting modules.

[riso1988]

Originally Posted by ctuna

The thing is any non stock thing in the idrive or radio or any
of the tunes for the DME will stop BMW from running updates
on your car. You have to go back to stock for them to perform
updates.There black box programming software looks at the original
configuration of the car and if doesn't see it , it stops on the spot.

It also stops them from doing diagnostics.

If they just replaced the sensor and didn't trigger and error it should still work.
If there is software associated with making the sensor work better they
won't be able to install that.

They are probably trying to update the whole car.
Yes you could update individual modules that are not modified with
Winkfp however dealerships are not allowed to use this Engineering Tool
Most wouldn't even know what it is.

Got it, that makes a lot of sense. Appreciate the info!

I'm fine with not having that module update or anything else for that matter. Hoping the sensor took care of the issue. Will keep you guys posted once I get the car back!

Also hoping they didn't brick my CIC or lose my LCI light coding trying to update the vehicle 😬

[ctuna]

Any custom coding will be wiped out by a Dealership
update. But if they try to update and cannot maybe
not.

Reread my first response I added to it.

[riso1988]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Any custom coding will be wiped out by a Dealership
update. But if they try to update and cannot maybe
not.

Reread my first response I added to it.

Got it. Thanks so much for the detailed info. Will follow-up with what I find when I pick the car up later today 🤞🏼

[riso1988]

So I picked the car up, I now have a constant 'passenger restraint malfunction' and airbag light. Scanned it and have the 93C5 code which does not clear. There must be a way to have the airbag module recognize the new oc3 occupancy mat. Any thoughts?

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by riso1988

So I picked the car up, I now have a constant 'passenger restraint malfunction' and airbag light. Scanned it and have the 93C5 code which does not clear. There must be a way to have the airbag module recognize the new oc3 occupancy mat. Any thoughts?

Again, there's no coding required for a new OC3 occupancy mat sensor. It is just plug and play.

Is it possible that you had a previously faulty mat coded out, and now with that same programming you have a good functional mat that is connected? Try disconnecting the sensor and see what happens.

Also, what dealership would perform a repair and return the car to a customer when it's still showing a warning indicator for the repair that they are supposed to be making?

[ctuna]

My first step would be to use Inpa or Ista to reset the error.

You could try to update the individual module associated with
monitoring the seats. You might also try to measure the sensor
don't know if depends on a switch or some other form of sensor
type .

Lesson is never take stuff to a dealer with modification if your getting
the part of the car worked on that has the modifications.
Some dealer will work with you on this others won't but ask first.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...nSwRQvXwANhTSk

[riso1988]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Again, there's no coding required for a new OC3 occupancy mat sensor. It is just plug and play.

Is it possible that you had a previously faulty mat coded out, and now with that same programming you have a good functional mat that is connected? Try disconnecting the sensor and see what happens.

Also, what dealership would perform a repair and return the car to a customer when it's still showing a warning indicator for the repair that they are supposed to be making?

Yeah it's kind of crazy. They wrote me an estimate just shy of 4000 to replace my climate control module, and a few other unrelated modules to get it working. I obviously declined.

Clearing the code did not help. Was told it needs to be 'programmed' for the module to see it.

[riso1988]

Originally Posted by ctuna

My first step would be to use Inpa or Ista to reset the error.

You could try to update the individual module associated with
monitoring the seats. You might also try to measure the sensor
don't know if depends on a switch or some other form of sensor
type .

Lesson is never take stuff to a dealer with modification if your getting
the part of the car worked on that has the modifications.
Some dealer will work with you on this others won't but ask first.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...nSwRQvXwANhTSk

Thanks for that PDF, it does state on pages 3-4 that the mat should be updated and enabled using ISTA. Wondering if that could be done with NCSexpert.

[ctuna]

Its already enabled as far as I know a sensor just changes states
it had no intelligence it's either analog or digital, meaning it changes
states like a switch or puts out a proportional voltage .

That is why you should check it in Inpa to see if it is working.
And try to reset the error first.

Should work even without and update.
My guess is you would update the CAS with winkfp.
But that is a guess.

[jms112294]

Hi not sure what to do here but looking for recall or something for my 2011 328i hardtop convertible. My pasanger CO3 mat has failed . The airbag and seat belt light came on I took it in to be checked out and found out the passage CO3 mat is bad do you know if there's a way that I can get this repair done because after both lights came on I started doing research and found that a lot of people that have the same care as myself are having the same issue is BMW required to fix this because during my research I found that the airbag will not work if the mat is not working properly.
I'm a disabled veteran and I was quoted over 1400 for me to have this done and I've only had the car a little over a year and it only has about 51,000 miles on it.
Thanks for your help